拍品專文
Ludovic Ier, roi d'Etrurie, commanda à Canova la version originale de la Venus Italica afin de remplacer la statue Antique représentant la Vénus de Médicis qui fût détruite durant l'occupation des forces Napoléoniennes en Italie.
D'abord peu enthousiaste à l'idée de cette commande, la perspective de surpasser l'un des chefs d'oeuvre de la sculpture antique motiva rapidement Canova qui demanda un moule de l'original de la Vénus de Médicis se trouvant au Louvre. Achevée en 1812, la sculpture fût placée au Palais Pitti, à Florence. Très appréciée dès son apparition, Canova en fit plusieurs répliques qui furent acquises, entre autres, par le Marquis de Lansdowne, Lucien, Prince de Canino et frère de Napoléon et le Marquis de Londonderry. La Venus Italica fût l'une des sculptures les plus en vogue, et les sculpteurs européens en firent de nombreuses copies tout au long du XIXème et du XXème siècle.
Canova was commissioned to execute the original version of the Venus Italica at the suggestion of Ludovico I, King of Etruria, as a replacement for the antique statue of the Medici Venus, which had been plundered by Napoleonic forces during their occupation of Italy. At first reluctant to accept the commission, the challenge to surpass one of the masterpieces of Antique sculpture soon took hold of Canova and asked for a cast of the original which had been installed in the Louvre. Completed in 1812, the sculpture was placed in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence. Popular from the moment it was unveiled, the Venus was subsequently replicated by Canova and purchased by among others, the Marquess of Lansdowne, Lucien, Prince of Canino and brother of Napoleon, and the Marquess of Londonderry. The Venus Italica was one of Canova's most popular models and the accomplished european marble carvers made versions throughout the nineteenth century.
D'abord peu enthousiaste à l'idée de cette commande, la perspective de surpasser l'un des chefs d'oeuvre de la sculpture antique motiva rapidement Canova qui demanda un moule de l'original de la Vénus de Médicis se trouvant au Louvre. Achevée en 1812, la sculpture fût placée au Palais Pitti, à Florence. Très appréciée dès son apparition, Canova en fit plusieurs répliques qui furent acquises, entre autres, par le Marquis de Lansdowne, Lucien, Prince de Canino et frère de Napoléon et le Marquis de Londonderry. La Venus Italica fût l'une des sculptures les plus en vogue, et les sculpteurs européens en firent de nombreuses copies tout au long du XIXème et du XXème siècle.
Canova was commissioned to execute the original version of the Venus Italica at the suggestion of Ludovico I, King of Etruria, as a replacement for the antique statue of the Medici Venus, which had been plundered by Napoleonic forces during their occupation of Italy. At first reluctant to accept the commission, the challenge to surpass one of the masterpieces of Antique sculpture soon took hold of Canova and asked for a cast of the original which had been installed in the Louvre. Completed in 1812, the sculpture was placed in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence. Popular from the moment it was unveiled, the Venus was subsequently replicated by Canova and purchased by among others, the Marquess of Lansdowne, Lucien, Prince of Canino and brother of Napoleon, and the Marquess of Londonderry. The Venus Italica was one of Canova's most popular models and the accomplished european marble carvers made versions throughout the nineteenth century.